ABSTRACT

Caregiver burden in patients with dementia is a condition that impairs both patients and caregivers health. We aimed to compare the caregiver burden between Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) groups. Subjects, admitted to the geriatric outpatient clinic of Gulhane Medical Faculty, were assessed in this analysis. AD patients (n=30) and LBD patients (n=29) with caregiver were considered as patient groups. Older people with normal cognitive function (n=32) with caregiver were included as control group. Zarit Burden Interview was used to evaluate caregiver’s depression. The mean caregiving periods (year) in AD, LBD, and control groups were 5.0±3.0, 3.5±1.2, and 5.2±3.3, respectively. Depression was prevalent in caregivers of AD group (50%, p=0.04). Depression level in dementia was higher in LBD group (mean=16.2±6.0) and significantly higher than AD group (mean=12.1±5.2) (p=0.007). Zarit Burden Interview score was the highest in LCD group (mean=18.5±10.3) and significantly higher than control group (mean=7,4±6,4) (p<0.001). In our study, perceived stress and exhaustion were more among caregivers of LBD than those of AD. Interventions aimed to decrease caregiver burden are needed to implement in patients with dementia, especially with LCD, and in their caregivers.

Keywords: Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer dementia, Caregivers